Mathematics, MMath

Description

Mathematics is a fundamental subject that is constantly developing. Yes – it is a discipline in its own right, but it is also the thinking behind countless commercial, industrial and technological activities. Mathematical models underpin engineering, the applied sciences, computing and many aspects of management today. As a Mathematics student you will develop an outlook and high level study skills that will be hugely valuable whatever career path you follow after graduation.

The Mathematics programme is a broad-based course which means the focus is not on a single area of applications such as finance, management or computer studies. Instead, it aims to develop skills that you can use in a wide range of areas. You will study many aspects of pure and applied Mathematics, together with general concepts of mathematical modelling. When it comes to the application of mathematics, we cover finance, statistics, operational research (how Maths can be applied to commercial and industrial problems), numerical analysis (the approximate solution of very hard problems) and mechanics.

The MMath programme offers a highly integrated, logical progression from BSc to Master’s level. Study for a further year (at level 4) and bring your BSc degree to Master’s standard.

At levels 3 and 4, due to the large range of optional modules available, you will be able to study in-depth those areas of Mathematics that particularly appeal to you. For example, you can choose to concentrate, for example, on statistics or financial applications or you can maintain a broad approach to the subject as a whole.

Aims

This course aims to equip students with a deep understanding and versatility in applying mathematical knowledge to scientific, technological, business and other areas – preparing them for the many jobs that need these skills. We continue throughout to encourage the joy of studying Maths that attracted students to this degree in the first place.

Detailed Course Facts

• GBP 9000 Year (EEA)
• GBP 14250 Year (Non-EEA)

• English

Course Content

Typical modules

Level 1

• Linear Algebra

• Calculus and Numerical Methods

• Mathematical Modelling

• Computing Projects and Mechanics

• Discrete Mathematics, Probability and Statistics

Level 2

• Linear and Numerical Methods

• Vector Calculus and Applications

• Communication Skills and Operational Research

• Statistics

• Algebra and Discrete Mathematics

• Analysis

Level 3

• Major Project (core – see below for more)

• Statistics

  Numerical methods for partial differential equations

• Complex Variable Methods and Applications

• Risk and Optimisation in Finance

• Differential and Integral Equations

• Encryption and Data Compression

• Stochastic models and mathematical finance

Level 4 modules include:

• Advanced Project

• Variational methods for partial differential equations

• Advanced mathematical finance

• Fluid Mechanics and Waves

• Mathematical Statistics

• Advanced Topics in Combinatorics

• Advanced Topics in Analysis

Level 3 project

This is a very valuable feature of this Mathematics course – a substantial piece of individual, course-related work personally supervised by a staff member. Projects are often connected to staff research areas and may also be in response to industry demands.

Work on the project accounts for about one-third of your Level 3 year study load. Explore in-depth a topic of particular interest to you or work on a practical problem – the choice is yours.

Although students who undertake a work placement year can choose to focus their Level 3 project on their work experience, they may also select from the projects offered each year by the Mathematics staff. During 2010-2011 over 150 project titles were available to final year Mathematics undergraduates. These covered a very wide range of mathematical areas and applications including, for example:

• The very famous ’travelling salesman problem’ (also known as ’the lazy waiter’!)

• The discovery and identification of clustering behaviour in financial markets

• The Mathematics of complex networks such as the web, or even Facebook

• Applications of statistics to the premier league, police complaints data and global warming

• Investigating traffic flow (are traffic lights better than roundabouts?)

In addition to all of these topic areas, our students also have opportunities to study modern theories in quantitative finance, with particular emphasis on the mathematics and computation underlying the powerful and influential financial derivatives (eg options) industry. Often termed the ‘Black-Scholes theory’, this is famous for winning its discoverers a Nobel prize, as well as for its misapplication often being blamed (rightly or wrongly) for the current worldwide financial crisis.

Most of our projects can be carried out in ways that suit the student's strengths and interests. For example, it is often possible to choose to emphasise concrete applications or abstract theory, and the project can be carried out using theoretical tools only, or computational tools only, or a mixture of both. Using the research experience gained from this module, you will then be able to choose to undertake more advanced project and self-study modules at Level 4 if you wish.

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 CAE score : 60(Grade C)

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

• GCE A-level AAA, including A in Mathematics or Further Mathematics.
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Applicants should apply for the BSc in Financial Mathematics – those who obtain high enough grades can transfer to MMath at the end of Year 2.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma 37 points, including 6 points in Higher Mathematics.
• Access to Higher EducationDiploma Access courses are not accepted for the MMaths entry. Access students are encouraged to apply for the BSc degree in this subject and if they achieve sufficient grades on year one of the course they can discuss transferring to the MMaths.

GCSE Mathematics grade C and GCSE English grade C are also required.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Brunel University.

Funding

Brunel offers bursaries and scholarships to a wide range of students from different backgrounds and with different talents.

Please note that all information on this page is valid for 2010 entry only. 2011 entry information will be added as soon as it is available.

Brunel Bursaries

A Brunel bursary is a non-repayable sum of money awarded by the University to supplement the Government´s Maintenance Grant. It is designed for undergraduate students from lower-income households.

For 2010 entry, Brunel offers:

• £1,000 per year of study to all undergraduate students entitled to receive a full Maintenance Grant;
• £500 a year to undergraduate students eligible for a partial Maintenance Grant and whose annual household income is between £25,001 and £35,000.

Bursaries are paid automatically to eligible students, in termly instalments - you do not need to make a specific application, but you must indicate on your UCAS form that you consent to financial information being shared with the University.

Brunel Academic Scholarships

Four Scholarship schemes are currently available to new full-time undergraduates at Brunel. Applicants cannot receive more than one Scholarship - you will be awarded the most financially beneficial Scholarship for which you are eligible.

Regional Partnership and Alumni Scholarships

Please note that details and rates are subject to change for 2011 entry.

Brunel's Regional Partnership Scholarships are non-repayable cash awards of up to £3,000, paid each year to up to 25 undergraduate students on the basis of high academic achievement. Brunel Alumni Scholarships (funded by alumni donations) are non-repayable* cash awards of £6,000, paid each year on the same basis as Regional Partnership Scholarships to the five applicants who achieve the highest number of UCAS tariff points.

Eligible students for both Scholarships must have attended a maintained school or college (not an independent or private school) in one of the six boroughs with whom the University operates Widening Participation partnerships - Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow.

You must also meet one or more of the following under-represented criteria:

• You have a disability, including dyslexia (ie you are eligible to apply for the Disabled Student´s Allowance at the time of scholarship allocation in the August of your year of entry);
• You are a care-leaver (ie you have been in care for a minimum of 13 weeks including at the time of your 16th birthday and have declared this on your UCAS form);
• You come from a low-income or low socio-economic background (ie you are entitled to a full Government Maintenance Grant or Special Support grant).

Students who meet the above criteria and who achieve a minimum of 360 UCAS tariff points will be considered for a Regional Partnership Scholarship of up to £3,000 per year or an Alumni Scholarship of £6,000 per year. All applicants attending a partnership school or college who make Brunel their firm choice will be invited to complete an online application in the spring of their year of entry. Only those students who complete the application will be considered for a scholarship.

Brunel Urban Scholarships

Brunel Urban Scholarships are non-repayable cash awards of up to £3,000 per year for students who have attended the Urban Scholars programme at Brunel University for a minimum of two years, who achieve academic excellence and who meet the criteria for obtaining UK fee and maintenance support. Details are sent directly to eligible students.

Brunel Mathematics Scholarships

The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers up to 10 scholarships annually for UK students admitted to one of the undergraduate Mathematics degree programmes (Mathematics, Financial Mathematics, Mathematics and Computing, Mathematics with Computer Science, Mathematical and Management Studies or Mathematics and Statistics with Management). To qualify for a scholarship, students must achieve at least grades AAB at A-level, with grade A in Mathematics or Further Mathematics. Students who achieve 35 points from the International Baccalaureate Diploma, including grade 7 in Higher Level Mathematics, will also be eligible.

Successful applicants will receive £500 in each year of study (except in a placement year), subject to the recipient maintaining at least an upper second class honours standard of academic performance.

Brunel International Scholarships

Scholarships are available to all full international fee paying students who have an offer for a place in the first year of a full-time course at Brunel.

Extra-curricular scholarships and awards

Music Awards

A number of awards are made each year to singers and instrumentalists from any part of the University who are not studying music performance as part of their academic course. Recipients may have all or part of the cost of their music tuition covered while they are studying at Brunel. The University Arts Centre administers the awards through an annual audition system, and you can apply once you have received an offer from Brunel.

The number of awards made each year will vary according to the standard of the applicants and how many students are currently holding full and partial awards, but there will be no fewer than four new awards made each academic year.

Sports Scholarships

The Brunel Sports Scholarship, supported in part by the Borough Road Scholarship Fund, is designed to benefit elite performance athletes by supporting their academic study and sporting commitments simultaneously. The package includes a financial award, free use of our world-class sports facilities and assistance with competition expenses.

Anyone who has fulfilled the conditions of a course and subsequently been given a confirmed place at Brunel can apply, and all applicants must be able to demonstrate sporting achievement at Junior International level or equivalent in one of the 20 Sport England Priority Sports.